Hawaii Community Engagement

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) hosted community-based listening sessions across the Hawaiian islands in Fiscal Year 2024.

Illustration of waves, earth’s core, flower, Hawaiian islands, lighting bolts, temperature gauge, heating and cooling flow, and heat comping up from earth’s core.

The project was focused on empowering communities to make decisions and choices that support local needs. Listening sessions were held for Hawaiians to share their perspectives on community energy needs, including costs, resilience, energy independence, air quality, and renewable sources including geothermal.

The goal of the listening sessions was to bring community members interested in energy together and connect communities with informational resources so they can play a role in their energy futures. These listening sessions are paramount to ensuring diverse local voices are part of the conversation on Hawaii’s clean energy future and that GTO and NREL understand interests in and barriers to different renewable energy technologies from a variety of unique perspectives.

Community Council

As part of this initiative, the project team established a Community Council with members of more than a dozen Hawaiian utilities and industry, community organizations, academia, state agencies, and nonprofits. Council members helped develop the project’s engagement strategy to ensure community selection and key topics were thoughtfully incorporated into chosen locations for listening sessions, dates, agendas, outreach, and educational materials.

Listening Sessions

Listening sessions were held on Oahu and Maui in March 2024 and in Kailua-Kona and Waimea in May 2024. In July 2024, additional listening sessions were held on the Big Island in Pahoa, Hilo, and Waimea. Thank you to those who attended! A formal report will be released and linked here in early 2025.

This effort is focused on community engagement—neither development of energy resources nor funding for any energy development are a part of this initiative.

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Data and Privacy Notice

NREL staff will use the information you provide only to plan for the meetings. Data will be retained for 5 years after the meetings. NREL will not share this information. See NREL's security and privacy policy.

Contact

Geo.Engagement@nrel.gov